BANGKOK – Thai police used rubber bullets against protesters for a second day in a row today, as demonstrators rally against the government and its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
Demonstrators here defied a ban on public gatherings as the kingdom tries to curb its worst Covid-19 outbreak so far – more than 21,000 new cases were announced today.
The slow roll-out of the national vaccination programme and financial hardship from restrictions are fuelling public anger towards Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha’s government.
About 150 protesters gathered at the major intersection of the Victory Monument here this afternoon, intending to march to Prayut’s residence.
They quickly dispersed as riot police moved in and arrested at least two demonstrators.
Earlier, protesters burnt an effigy of a Thai judge who denied bail to political detainees.
“Police are not our enemies. Our true enemy is the government,” said one rally-goer.
Yesterday, protesters and police clashed in the Thai capital here, with 48 demonstrators arrested and nine officers injured, including one shot in the leg.
Officers used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets, while demonstrators retaliated with firecrackers and rocks.
Bangkok police, facing accusations of heavy-handedness, insisted that their approach is in line with the law, and urged people not to jeopardise public health and safety.
A youth-led pro-democracy movement began last year, and at its peak, drew tens of thousands of people to rallies demanding the resignation of Prayut, a former army chief who came to power in a 2014 coup.
The movement broke long-held taboos by demanding reforms to Thailand’s monarchy, and scores of protesters have been hit with multiple royal defamation charges, which carry 15-year jail terms.
But, the movement lost momentum as Covid-19 cases surged and its leaders were put in detention. – AFP, August 11, 2021
